Journalists in the country have been urged to maintain a high level of professionalism when covering child labor issues.
Media Council of Malawi stressed this during the opening of a four-day training in Dowa on November 14, 2023, bankrolled by Plan International Malawi (PIM) and Save the Children International, under Joining Forces Africa (JOFA) project.
The training which seeks to equip journalists with the necessary knowledge for reporting on child labor issues in Malawi has brought together reporters from across the country.
In his speech, MCM Executive Director Moses Kaufa, underscored the need of upholding professional standards while reporting on such sensitive issues.
“Reporting on child labor issues is not an easy task. It requires knowledge, skills, ethics, and sensitivity consideration,” Kaufa stated.
Plan International Malawi’s Regional Manager, Dan Kapatuka, expects participants to enhance their ability in reporting child labor with keen interest of protecting children from being victimized.
“It is our hope that with the knowledge that these journalists and media houses will gain they will be able to help amplify child labour issues not only across the project impact areas but they will cover the entire country”, Said Kapatuka.
Chief Labour Officer and Head of Child Labour Unit in the Ministry of Labour, Francis Kwenda stressed the need to take on the fight against child labor as a “collective fight,” for all stakeholders involved thereby easily holding perpetrators accountable.
The JOFA project, implemented by a consortium of PIM and Save the Children International, aims to address child labor issues in Malawi by empowering media houses and journalists to effectively raise awareness through their reporting on child labor issues.
